The p53/miR-29a-3p axis mediates the antifibrotic effect of leonurine on angiotensin II-stimulated rat cardiac fibroblasts

Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and fibrotic diseases

The transition of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts (FMT) represents a pivotal process in wound healing, tissue repair, and fibrotic diseases. This intricate transformation involves dynamic changes in cellular morphology, gene expression, and extracellular matrix remodeling. While extensively studied at the molecular level, recent research has illuminated the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in orchestrating FMT. This review explores the emerging roles of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in regulating this intricate process. NcRNAs interface with key signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic mechanisms to fine-tune gene expression during FMT. Their functions are critical in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and disruptions in these regulatory networks have been linked to pathological fibrosis across various tissues. Understanding the dynamic roles of ncRNAs in FMT bears therapeutic promise. Targeting specific ncRNAs holds potential to mitigate exaggerated myofibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. However, challenges in delivery and specificity of ncRNA-based therapies remain. In summary, ncRNAs emerge as integral regulators in the symphony of FMT, orchestrating the balance between quiescent fibroblasts and activated myofibroblasts. As research advances, these ncRNAs appear to be prospects for innovative therapeutic strategies, offering hope in taming the complexities of fibrosis and restoring tissue equilibrium.

Leonurine: a comprehensive review of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology

Leonurine is an alkaloid unique to the Leonurus genus, which has many biological activities, such as uterine contraction, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, regulation of cell apoptosis, anti-tumor, angiogenesis, anti-platelet aggregation, and inhibition of vasoconstriction. This paper summarizes the extraction methods, synthetic pathways, biosynthetic mechanisms, pharmacokinetic properties, pharmacological effects in various diseases, toxicology, and clinical trials of leonurine. To facilitate a successful transition into clinical application, intensified efforts are required in several key areas: structural modifications of leonurine to optimize its properties, comprehensive pharmacokinetic assessments to understand its behavior within the body, thorough mechanistic studies to elucidate how it works at the molecular level, rigorous safety evaluations and toxicological investigations to ensure patient wellbeing, and meticulously conducted clinical trials to validate its efficacy and safety profile.

Non-coding RNAs: targets for Chinese herbal medicine in treating myocardial fibrosis

Cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in urban and rural areas. Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological manifestation at the adaptive and repair stage of cardiovascular diseases, easily predisposing to cardiac death. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), RNA molecules with no coding potential, can regulate gene expression in the occurrence and development of myocardial fibrosis. Recent studies have suggested that Chinese herbal medicine can relieve myocardial fibrosis through targeting various ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Thus, ncRNAs are novel drug targets for Chinese herbal medicine. Herein, we summarized the current understanding of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis, and highlighted the contribution of ncRNAs to the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine on myocardial fibrosis. Further, we discussed the future directions regarding the potential applications of ncRNA-based drug screening platform to screen drugs for myocardial fibrosis.

The inhibition of FTO attenuates the antifibrotic effect of leonurine in rat cardiac fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a common pathological condition in cardiovascular diseases that often causes severe cardiac dysfunction. MF is characterized by changes in cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), levels of collagen (Col) -1, -3, and overdeposition of the extracellular matrix. Our previous research showed that leonurine (LE) effectively inhibits collagen synthesis and differentiation of CFs, but the mechanism is not fully elucidated. Recent evidence indicates that fat mass and obesity-associated proteins (FTO) regulates the occurrence and development of MF. This study aimed to explore the role of FTO in the antifibrotic effects of LE.

METHODS

Neonatal rat CFs were isolated, and induced using angiotensin II (Ang II) to establish a cell model of MF. Cell viability, wound healing and transwell assays were used to detect cell activity and migration ability. The protein and mRNA levels of MF-related factors were measured following stimulation with Ang II and LE under normal conditions or after FTO knockdown. The RNA methylation level was measured by dot blot assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that LE (20, 40 μM) was not toxic to normal CFs. LE reduced the proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of Ang II-induced CFs. Further investigation showed that FTO was downregulated by Ang II stimulation, whereas LE reversed this effect. FTO knockdown facilitated the migration of CFs, upregulated the protein levels of Col-3, α-SMA and Col-1 in Ang II and LE-stimulated CFs, and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of α-SMA. Furthermore, LE reduced N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, which was partially blocked by FTO knockdown. FTO knockdown also reduced the expression levels of p53 protein in Ang II and LE-stimulated CFs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the inhibition of FTO may attenuate the antifibrotic effect of LE in CFs, suggesting that FTO may serve as a key protein for anti-MF of LE.

A literature review: mechanisms of antitumor pharmacological action of leonurine alkaloid

Leonurine refers to the desiccated aerial portion of a plant in the Labiatae family. The primary bioactive constituent of Leonurine is an alkaloid, Leonurine alkaloid (Leo), renowned for its substantial therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of gynecological disorders, in addition to its broad-spectrum antineoplastic capabilities. Over recent years, the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of Leo have garnered escalating scholarly interest. Leo exhibits its anticancer potential by means of an array of mechanisms, encompassing the inhibition of neoplastic cell proliferation, induction of both apoptosis and autophagy, and the containment of oncogenic cell invasion and migration. The key signal transduction pathways implicated in these processes include the Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), the Phosphoinositide3-Kinase/Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase (PI3K/AKT), the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), and the Mitogen-Activated Protein/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (MAP/ERK). This paper commences with an exploration of the principal oncogenic cellular behaviors influenced by Leo and the associated signal transduction pathways, thereby scrutinizing the mechanisms of Leo in the antineoplastic sequence of events. The intention is to offer theoretical reinforcement for the elucidation of more profound mechanisms underpinning Leo's anticancer potential and correlating pharmaceutical development.